Big Smelly Bear

Since I was a classroom teacher for almost 4 years before I moved into art, I have a passion for children's literature. Now I look at the illustrations rather than the story. If I find a trade book on animals or something with beautiful pictures I just have to buy it and create a lesson around this book. Our school book fair was in the fall and one book I purchased was Big Smelly Bear written by Britta Teckentrup. The bright colors and bears were so wonderful and I knew it would be a great book

Materials:

9 x 12 construction paper (brown or tan)

1/2 of 9 x 12 construction paper (brown or tan)

12 x 18 white construction paper

tan, brown, white and black tempra paint

large paintbrushes

oil pastels of all colors

black crayon and white oil pastel in separated from colors

head with ears attached and nose pattern made from poster board

blue watercolors

watercolor paintbrushes

water containers

Day One:

Read the book Big Smelly Bear and discuss the different colors in the bear's face and nose.

Using the white and tan paint the 1/2 9x12 paper using the "bunny hop" method. You want the paper to look scratchy, not smooth. I demonstrate how to hold the paintbrush like a solider (straight up and tall) and hop into the middle of the two colors and then hop all around my paper. I make sure they understand I am not smearing the paint on the tray or on the paper. I demonstrate the right and wrong way to paint the paper. Take paper to the drying rack.

On the same paint tray I add brown and a little black paint. Then students use the 9x12 paper to paint it using the same 'bunny hop' method. Take paper to the drying rack.

Day Two:

Review the pictures of Big Smelly Bear and discuss the shape and color of the leaves in the picture.

Using the 12 x 18 white piece of paper (horizontal), black crayon and white oil pastel. Demonstrate how to draw a fly (oval body, circle head, 2 antennas, legs and arms, and two wings) making sure they color in the body and head ONLY with the black. Once I modeled how to draw one they were to draw 4 more, for a total of 5 flies. After they were drawn I modeled how to color in the wings with the white oil pastel. I picked up the container of black crayons and white oil pastel, so they wouldn't confuse it with the colored oil pastels.

Model how to draw the leaves starting with a line from the bottom to the middle of the paper. From the top of the line I made a curve line and then straight down parallel to the first line. I repeated the same step for the other side. Then starting in the middle line I drew short diagonal lines to the outlines lines. The leaves actually looks like feathers. Have students color in the leaves very lightly not to cover up the lines. I allowed them to make any color leaves to brighten up the picture.

Using the blue watercolor have students paint the whole picture blue. Since the crayon and oil pastels are water resistance it made it very easy. Take to the drying rack.

Day Three:

Using the face and nose pattern and 2 brown and tan painted papers student will place pattern on back side of paper and trace. I always put trash buckets (sand buckets) on each table to prevent students from getting up and going to the big trash can.

I modeled how to hold the pattern down with one hand and trace with the other to make sure I trace it correctly. Students will cut small slits around the head from ear to ear on the head, and then fold up the slits to make it look more like fur.

Using the cup of black crayon and white oil pastel students will draw and color in an upside down triangle on the nose and then a upside down 'Y' for the mouth. Glue nose onto the head, making sure the nose and mouth are facing down and the ears are up. Using the white oil pastel students will color in 2 circles above the nose for eyes and add black dots for the pupil.

Now discuss that the bear has no neck or body and if he is glued onto the middle of the background he has a floating head. Model where to glue the head and then have students glue it on and take paper to the drying rack.

Enjoy your Big Smelly Bear!